GE Fanuc Automation, a unit of GE Industrial, is offering its new VersaMotion AC servo motors and amplifiers, a family of cost effective motion controllers that can be combined with the company’s VersaMax Micro for low-end position control applications. They can also be used as standalone single axis position controllers for simple indexing or electronic gear follower applications.
Daniel Coetzee, manager, Africa for GE Fanuc Automation says: “The VersaMotion features power ratings from 100 W to 3 kW and a continuous torque range from 0,3 Nm to 19,1 Nm. In addition, it provides motor speed ratings up to 5000 RPM for most models. The range of torque and motor power ensures that users can get exactly what they need for their application, optimising performance, size and cost.”
The flexibility of the command interface and user defined operating modes translate to a variety of system architectures:
* As a standalone simple position indexer using up to eight stored positions that are selected and triggered using discrete inputs or the serial communication interface. Desired positions can be configured/changed using a teach function or over the serial communication interface. Simple electronic gearing (pulse follower) using a configurable fixed gear ratio is also supported.
* With the VersaMax Micro, 20/40/64 built-in CPU motion functions.
* With the new VersaMax Micro 2-axis motion expansion module using the 500 kHz pulse command interface for applications that require more complex motion sequences, basic positioning with registration control, etc.
* With Quick Panel Control and the VersaMax Micro 2-axis motion expansion module using the 500 kHz pulse command interface to provide a well integrated motion, logic and view solution.
* With a DSM314 using either an analogue velocity or analogue torque command (a good replacement option for the obsolete SL series servos).
The VersaMotion amplifiers can be configured for a broad range of single or dual operating modes. In general, there are the following basic modes:
* Internal position mode: control the motor position by selecting and executing the eight stored positions. Stored positions can be changed over the serial interface allowing for greater application flexibility).
* External position mode: control motor position using electronic gearing or pulse follower mode by selecting between four user-defined gear ratios. This mode is used to interface the amplifier to a host motion controller (eg, VersaMax Micro) using a pulse command interface.
* Internal speed mode: control motor speed by selecting from the three stored internal speed values.
* External speed mode: control motor speed based on an analogue input.
* Internal torque mode: control motor torque by selecting from the three stored internal torque values.
* External torque mode: control motor torque based on an analogue input.
“Several combinations of these modes can also be configured to allow on-the-fly switchover of the operating mode using a digital input,” continues Coetzee. “The freedom to configure the VersaMotion to many different system architectures gives users options when it comes to their application. That means greater freedom to make the most out of your manufacturing line. Its ability to act as a standalone motion controller reduces the amount of hardware and integration services required allowing users to get their application running more quickly and with fewer chances for errors,” he concludes.
For more information Daniel Coetzee GE Fanuc Automation, +27 (0)31 583 3640, [email protected], www.gefanuc.com/za
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